Professor Myra stood by the doorway, her elegant robe swaying lightly as she prepared to leave.

"Then I shall take my leave," said Professor Myra.

"Okay, Madam," Selena replied quickly, bowing her head with respect.

Kael, standing beside her, simply nodded. "Okay."

Before he could realize his mistake, Selena’s foot lightly kicked the back of his leg.

"Heeey..." Kael grunted, almost losing his balance.

Selena whispered sharply, "Bow and show some respect, idiot."

"Oh... okay, okay." Kael scratched his neck awkwardly and gave a small, hesitant bow. "Okay, Madam."

Professor Myra smiled faintly at his effort. "Good. Continue working hard, both of you," she said before walking gracefully down the hallway.

Her footsteps echoed until they faded into silence.

Once Myra was gone, Kael let out a small sigh of relief. "You really didn’t have to kick me, you know."

Selena crossed her arms. "If I didn’t, you’d keep acting like a wild boar in front of professors."

"I’m not a wild boar," Kael muttered, straightening his clothes. "Just... not good with formalities."

Selena rolled her eyes. "Not good with common sense either."

Kael chuckled under his breath and started walking down the corridor. "So, what brings you here during busy hours? Don’t you have training or something?"

Selena quickly followed him. "Hey, don’t change the topic! I came because of you, actually."

"Me?" Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," she said, glaring at him. "Remember the last time you took those coins from the demon site near the western ruins?"

Kael paused mid-step. "Yeah... those coins."

"The ones you called ancient coins, remember?" she said.

"I checked every record, every archive I could find about that symbol you showed me, and guess what?"

"What?"

"There’s nothing. No record of any kingdom or dynasty using such a design. Nothing about their

purpose or material. It’s like they don’t exist."

Kael scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe they’re older than recorded history."

Selena gave him a deadpan look. "Or maybe you were scammed by a fancy-looking rock."

He smirked. "A rock doesn’t radiate energy strong enough to trigger mana sensors."

Selena blinked. "Wait, you tested it with a mana detector?"

"I did," Kael said.

"The detector flickered for a moment. Weak, but definitely some kind of reaction."

(Sometimes i have to lie)

Selena frowned. "But that coin of yours—"

"—reacted like something in between," Kael finished her sentence, his voice low. "Neither light nor dark. Just... still."

They had reached the corridor outside Professor Sylvia’s office.

"May I come in, Madam Sylvia?" Kael asked politely.

From inside, "Come in."

Kael pushed open the door. The office was filled with warm sunlight, stacks of scrolls, and neatly arranged crystals that glowed faintly with blue mana.

Professor Sylvia sat behind her desk, reading an old manuscript with her round glasses perched low on her nose.

Selena, still talking, followed him inside.

"Anyway, I really think there’s something you’re not telling me about that coin. If it’s cursed or something, I don’t want to—"

Professor Sylvia raised her gaze and smiled faintly. "Good afternoon, you two. It’s rare to see both of you together during my working hours. What’s the matter, Second year hero? I asked only Kael to come here "

"Madam, I came to report the findings from yesterday’s practical session. And... also to ask Kael about the coins." Selena replied nervously.

Sylvia’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. "A coin? Show me."

Kael carefully pulled a small object wrapped in cloth from his pocket.

He unwrapped it slowly, revealing a dull coin.

He had kept one of them in his pocket.

Its surface shimmered faintly under the light, revealing strange runes that twisted and shifted almost imperceptibly.

Sylvia leaned closer. "These runes... they aren’t of modern origin."

Selena quickly added, "That’s what I said! But there’s no record of them anywhere. Not in any ancient text or artifact index."

Sylvia gently touched the coin. The mana crystal on her desk flickered briefly, then dimmed. Her expression turned serious.

"This coin doesn’t belong to any known civilization," she said softly.

"The mana reaction is... stable yet unnatural. I’ve seen something similar once, during the expedition to the Lost Isles. But even those relics had faint elemental traces."

Kael asked, "Then... what does that mean?"

Sylvia leaned back. "I don’t know either."

Kael nodded thoughtfully. "I see... Then I’ll continue to study it." Kael pretended to reply.

Sylvia gave him a firm look. "Be careful. Objects like this are unpredictable. Don’t attempt to channel mana into it without supervision."

Kael hesitated but nodded. "Understood, Madam."

As the conversation ended, Sylvia went back to her papers. Selena gave Kael a playful nudge.

"Anyway madam, why did you call me here?" Kael asked.

"yes , why did you call us here madam" Selena replied.

Meanwhile, at the Academic’s Flower Garden

The air outside was fresh, carrying the fragrance of blooming lilies and moonlight vines.

The garden was a wide, open space between the academic buildings, filled with winding stone paths and crystal fountains.

Edwin walked across the third-year section, his mind heavy with thoughts.

As he walked, murmurs began to spread among the students nearby.

"Look... a junior hero wandering in the third-year campus," one student whispered with a smirk.

Another snickered. "What’s he doing here? Lost his way to the training ground?"

Some third years turned to look, clearly amused by the sight of a younger student in their territory.

Edwin ignored the whispers. His mind was elsewhere.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice someone walking from the opposite direction until—

Bump!

The impact made Edwin stumble back.

"Hey, kid..." a sharp voice said.

"Can you even see where you’re walking?"

Edwin quickly straightened up and looked at the man before him.

He recognized him immediately—Nathan, the rank one of the third years. A mage and combat fighter known for his exceptional strength.

"I’m sorry," Edwin said quietly, lowering his head.

"I was lost in thought."

Nathan crossed his arms "Lost in thought? On my path?"

Edwin frowned slightly. "Your path? This garden belongs to the academy, not to you."

Some nearby students gasped. A first-year talking back to Nathan was something unheard of.

Nathan’s lips curved into a smirk. "You’ve got guts, kid. But you’re in the wrong place to show them."

"I didn’t come to cause trouble," Edwin said calmly. "I just needed to clear my mind."

Nathan stepped closer.

"Then clear it somewhere else. The third-year section isn’t for children."

"Okay... thanks" Edwin replied.